Orban is certainly playing a dangerous game, but the same is true of Germany. Their economy got wrecked by this, and the destruction of NordStream was a substantial loss. Kissinger's line about it being more dangerous to be a friend of America than an enemy comes to mind.
There are no good options for European leaders in this situation. E…
Orban is certainly playing a dangerous game, but the same is true of Germany. Their economy got wrecked by this, and the destruction of NordStream was a substantial loss. Kissinger's line about it being more dangerous to be a friend of America than an enemy comes to mind.
There are no good options for European leaders in this situation. Either support the US and watch as the war and its costs escalate, or oppose the US and feel the wrath of its economic sanctions.
Hungary is also extremely exposed. It has lost territory and population in its wars. It has a history of foreign invasion and occupation. Also a history of very stubborn independence. In the middle ages the King of Hungary was threatened by the passage of unruly Crusaders (from Germany) travelling down the Danube. He attacked and defeated them and sold the prisoners into slavery. Very pragmatic. Rational self-interest trumps all. Loyalty to any abstraction (the West, Christendom, democracy) is prioritising fantasies over reality.
Any real war would see Hungary reduced to rubble overnight. And the loss of any significant numbers of young males would push the Magyars closer to extinction.
Orban is certainly playing a dangerous game, but the same is true of Germany. Their economy got wrecked by this, and the destruction of NordStream was a substantial loss. Kissinger's line about it being more dangerous to be a friend of America than an enemy comes to mind.
There are no good options for European leaders in this situation. Either support the US and watch as the war and its costs escalate, or oppose the US and feel the wrath of its economic sanctions.
Hungary is also extremely exposed. It has lost territory and population in its wars. It has a history of foreign invasion and occupation. Also a history of very stubborn independence. In the middle ages the King of Hungary was threatened by the passage of unruly Crusaders (from Germany) travelling down the Danube. He attacked and defeated them and sold the prisoners into slavery. Very pragmatic. Rational self-interest trumps all. Loyalty to any abstraction (the West, Christendom, democracy) is prioritising fantasies over reality.
Any real war would see Hungary reduced to rubble overnight. And the loss of any significant numbers of young males would push the Magyars closer to extinction.